D.C.-bound for March for Our Lives? Groups opening up homes in nation's capital

The students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are proving not only are they experts in social media, but e-commerce too. They've made over $180k in sales of '#MSDStrong' t-shirts to customers all over the world.
USA Today

Students nationwide will be coming to Washington, D.C., on March 24, 2018, for the March for Our Lives, which was organized by students at
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High school in Parkland, Fla., to end gun violence.(Photo: AFP/Getty Images RHONA WISERHONA WISE)

Student groups, religious organizations and others in the Washington, D.C., area are opening up their homes and offering support to those who will pack the streets of the nation's capital Saturday to demand an end to gun violence.

The March for Our Lives was organized in response to the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 14 that left 17 people dead. While the main march is in Washington, sister marches are planned nationwide.

A group of D.C. mothers founded March For Our Lives Lodging to help students find a place to stay. As of March 19, they have 1,200 available hosts and have found lodging for 400 people.

A map of homes in the D.C. area that signed up to host students through March For Our Lives Lodging. Homes with purple pins have been matched with guests.(Photo: March For Our Lives Lodging)

The group asks potential hosts and students to fill out a background form. "We have mothers sitting around looking at the information trying to find the perfect family to match them with," co-founder Elizabeth Andrews said. "Our biggest concern is: We don’t want anyone who wants to come to the march decide not to come because they don’t think they can afford housing."

March for Our Lives Lodging is accepting donations of rain ponchos, metro cards and food for bagged lunches to hand out to marchers.

Gabrielle Zwi, Kate Lebrun and Michaela Hoenig, students from the Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, Md., started a network to find students a place to stay. People can direct message @DCTeensAction on Twitter or email dcteensaction@gmail.com for help. They have already found housing for 300 people and still have 400 spots available.

The Reform Jewish community in the D.C. metro area is offering a variety of resources. Temple Rodef Shalom, Temple Beth Ami, Washington Hebrew Congregation and Temple Sinai are all offering some type of lodging to travelers whether it be in a home or on the floor of a synagogue. The congregations are also offering Shabbat dinner and Shabbat services and some are providing breakfast the morning of the march.

The Epiphany Episcopal Church is offering housing, two meals and a night of music and reflection at their Peace Gathering on Friday.

Lyft co-founders Logan Green and John Zimmer wrote a letter to students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas after the shooting offering condolences and free rides to anyone attending the march in Washington or the sibling marches across the country.

Scott Coriell, a Lyft communications manager, said the company is working with march organizers on logistics of the promotion.